Machine for manufacturing window envelopes



July 16, 1935. A. wlNKLl-:R E1- AL.

MACl-:NE FOR MANUFACTURING WINDOW ENVELOPES Filed July 28, 1932 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 .HNR

July 16, 1935. A. WINKLER n AL MACHINE Fon MANUFACTUMNG wINDow ENvELoPEsl Filed July 28, 1932 l 7 sheets-sheet ,2f

D INVENTOR.)

" ATTORNEY.

mwN

L'Illlyfl, 1935.

A. WINKLER Erm.

MACHINE MANUFACTURING WINDOW ENVELOPES Filed July 28, 1932' '7 Sheets-Shet 3 ATTORNEY.'

July 15, 1935-- A. wlNKLER ErAL 2,008,236

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING WINDOW ENVELOPES Filed July 28, 1952 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTO July 16, 1935. 4 AQ wlNKLER Er AL 2,008,236

l MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING WINDOW ENVELOPES Filed July 28, 1952 7 swam-sheetv 5 AT'TORNEY.

'July 16, 1935. A; wLNKLER ET Al.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING WINDOW ENVELOPES Filed July 28, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 gi 03'A u INVENTORS ATTORNEY.

July 16, 1935. l A WINKLER ET AL 2,008,236

`MACHINES FOR MANUFACTURING WINDOW ENVELOPES Filed July 28, 1952 7 Sheets-Shea?l 7 IN VEN TOR ATTORNEY.

Patented July 16, 1.935 t A UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING WINDOW ENVELOPES Alfred Winkler and Max Dnnebier, Neuwiedon-the-Rhne, Germany Application July 28, 1932, Serial No. 625,398

' In Germany December 19, 1931 i 21 Claims. (Cl. 93-62) This invention relates to a machine for the I and 2 designate right and left side frames manufacture of envelopes, bags and the like from of the window-forming portion of the machine, cut blanks, and more particularly to those of and supported on the upper edges thereof are l that character employing transparent panels or roller bed plates 3 and 4. Mounted on the right 5 windows, and has for its principal object to pro hand end of the side frames, Figs. 2l and 3, and at 5 vide mechanism whereby the operations per,- a point below the bed plates is a bracket 5 carformed on the blanks take place while they are ryizig an upwardly inclined stack supporting plate being forwarded through the machine and with- Ii on which a stack of envelope blanks I is supout interruption to their travel except at the ported for delivery into the machine.

gauging stations, thereby greatly increasing the The Stack of blanks is retained in position on 10 number of envelopes which may be produced in the plate by spaced DOStS 3 and 9 S0 tha-t the a given time. ,upper ends of the blanks project a sufficient dis- Another important object of the invention is tance above the rear edge of the plate to permit to provide a window-forming and pasting appathe lowermost blank in the stack to be engaged ratus employing rotary principles in order that by a VaCllU-m 1102218 lll` t0 efECt Successive Wth- 15 the various operations thereof may be actuated drawal of the blanks into the machine as later in synchronism and cooperation with the contindescribed. uous progressive travel of the blanks through the The blanks may assume various shapes and machine. sizes, but we have illustrated the machine as A By reason of these improvements we are, thereadjusted fOr forming Ordinary envelopes, and 20 fore, able to produce envelope blanks having the blanks include substantially rectangular transparent panels in suflicient numbers and at sheets wherein the corners a and b constitute a speed corresponding with the capacity 0f a the Side aDS and the COIHSIS C and d the tOD and rotary envelope folding apparatus with which bottom flaps 0f an BIIVGIODB- In the fOrm Of the window-forming mechanism is associated. blank illustrated the blanks are arranged diag- 25 In accomplishing these and other objects of Onally of the SUDDOrtiIlg plate s0 that the upper the invention, we have provided improved deflaps care in position to be engaged by the va-C- tails of structure, the preferred form of which is 11u-m 1102218 and fOlWarded into the machine. illustrated in the accompanying drawings, The vacuum nozzle I0 is carried at the end of wherein:- an arm tI that is mounted on a rock shaft I2 30 Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the win owextendng between upward projections I3 of the formingand gumming section of a machine ronbed plates and which is actuated by a cam I4 structed in accordance with our invention. through 2- leVBl l5 Conneoted t0 an arm I6 on Fig 1A is an elevation@ view of the flap-folding the rock shaft so that upon each rotation of the section of the machine, andis a continuation of Cam the 1102218 is swung toward the Stack 't0 35 the left hand end of the section illustrated in engage the bottom blank thereof and then away Fig. l. 5 from the stack to carry the engaged blank into Fig. 2 is 'a longitudinaI vertical sectional' view reach of the rst of a series of upper and lower of the window-forming and gumming portionof forwarding rollers located along the upper edges the machine illustrated in Fig. 1. of the bed plates. 40

Fig. 2A is a longitudinal vertical section The lower forwardly rollers are designated through the flap-folding and gumming portion I'I to 34, inclusive, and are mounted on horiof the machine illustrated'in Fig, 1A. zontal shafts rotatably supported in suitable Fig. 3 is a plan View of the portion. of the mabearings in the bed plates and at an elevation chine illustrated in Fig. l showing 'the supports so that the peripheries of the respective rollers 45 for the upper sets of rollers removed to better will lie in a horizontal plane to constitute a rollillustrate mounting of the lower rollers which ing support or path for the blanks as they are form the path of travel of the blanks. moved through the machine. The shafts of the Fig. 3A is a similar plan view of the nap-folding rollers I'I, I8 and I9 carry gears 35, 36 and 31, portion of the machine. respectively, which are interconnected by idler 50 Fig. fi is a diagrammatic view illustrating the gears 38 and 39 S0 that they IOtate together in different steps of operation performed on the an anti-clockwise direction (Fig. 2). blanks as they are being forwarded through the Cooperating with the roller I1 and located at machine. opposite sides of the nozzle I0 are spaced grip Referring more in detail to the drawingstrollers 40 and 4I that engage the sides of the flap 55 as it is bent downwardly upon retractive movement of the nozzle to withdraw the engaged blank from the stack. The rolers 40 and 4I are mounted on a shaft rotatably supported in the projecting portions I3 of the side frame and are driven by a gear 42 meshing with the gear 35 on the lower roller. Cooperating with the roller I8 are spaced rollers 43 and 44 to feed the blanks onto a straightening and aligning belt 45 whereon the blanks are overlapped in shingle formation.

The belt 45 operates over the rollers I9 and 20 and over a horizontal plate 46 supported therebetween, as best illustrated in Fig. 2. The belt is tensioned over the table by a suitable tensioning device indicated at 41.

In order to retain the blanks in overlapped formation on the belt, we provide spaced sets of guide rolers 48, 49, 50 and 5I, which are preferably yieldingly tensioned against the belt by suitable tensioning means (not shown). In order that the forwarding rollers I1 and i8, including the belt 45, may be operated intermittently between movements of the vacuum nozzle, the shaft for the roller I1 is intermittently actuated by means of a Geneva gearing 52 (Fig. 2).

The Geneva gearing 52 includes a Maltese cross member 53 mounted on the stub shaft 54 extending from the frame I, and which carries a sprocket 55 for driving a sprocket 561` on the shaft of the roller I1 through a chain 51 running over the respective sprockets. The Maltese cross member is intermittently actuated by the Geneva block 58 that is fixed on a horizontal shaft 59 having its ends rotatably mounted in the side frames I and 2 and which is actuated by a chain operating over a sprocket 6I thereon and overl a sprocket 62 on a countershaft 63 extending between the side frames at a point below the shaft 59. The shaft 63 is operated from a longitudinally extending drive shaft 64 through bevel gears 65 and 66 on the respective shafts.

The roller 2| at the delivery end of the belt 45 cooperates with spaced driving Wheels 61 which are mounted on a shaft 68 extending above the roller 2| and which is operated continuously at a desired speed by a sprocket 69 driven from a sprocket by means of a chain 1 I. The sprocket 10 is mounted on a countershaft 12 rotatably mounted in the side frames I and 2 at a point in advance of the countershaft 59 and is driven therefrom through a longitudinally extending shaft 13. The shaft 13 extends along the upper edge of the side frame I and is rotatably mounted in bearings 14 and 15 carried by brackets 16 projecting from the side frame, as best illustrated in Fig. 3. v

The shaft 13 is actuated by a bevel gear 11 meshing with a bevel gear 18 fixed to the end of the countershaft 59. 'Ihe countershaft 12 is operably'connected with the shaft 13 by intermeshing bevel gears 19 and 80 fixed to the respective shafts, as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3.

As soon as the blanks are engaged by the continuously running rollers 2| and 61, they are individually separated from thevblanks being advanced by the belt 45 for separate travel through the window-cutting mechanism.

VIn order to time the blanks for proper admission to the window-forming mechanism, we provide al shaft 8I- extending across the bed plates between the rollers 2| and 22 for mounting spaced stop members 82 having upwardly extending ngers 83 adapted to swing across the path of travel of the successive blanks to momentarily intercept their movement until they arein correct timed relation with the window-cutting mechanism, so that the window will be for ed at the proper location in the blanks. 71

The stop members 82 have depending arms 84 carrying rollers 85 having contact with cams 86 carried on a shaft 81 that extends between the bed plates. The cam shaft A81 is driven by a gear 88 meshing with a gear 89 on the countershaft 12 through a train of idle gears 90, as best illustrated in Fig. l. The fingers thus described are preferably arranged to engagethe blanks at opposite sides of the top flap c so that the point thereof is in position to be engaged by the roller 22, which is the rst roller for aiding in advancement of the blank through the window-forming mechanism.

Cooperating with the roller 22 and mounted on a shaft 9|, carried by upward extensions 92 of the bed plates, is a segmental roller 93 including an arcuate portion 94 extending substantially half the diameter thereof. The position of the arcuate portion of the roller is so timed relatively to the continued advance of the blanks that the point of the blank lies free upon the roller 22 until engaged by the forward edge thereof, at which time the stop fingers are moved out of engagement with the blank to allow its feed between the segmental roller and the roller 22. When the rear edge of the arcuate portion of the segmental roller moves into contact with the blank, it grips the blank and continues its forward travel through the machine.

From the rollers 22 and 93 the blank is forwarded over the roller 23, aided by pressure rolls 96, to a window-cutting mechanism now described.

Rotatably mounted in the bed plates between the rollers 23 and 24 isa roller 91 having arcuate cutting knives 98 and 99 spaced apart a sufcient distance to form end cuts of the window opening and which cooperate with'a hardened spring tensioned roller |00 carried directly above the roller 91, as best illustrated in Fig. 2, to cut through the blank.

After the blank has been carried past the rollers 91 and |00, where it has received its initial cut, it is gripped by the rollers 24 and 25, aided by spring tensioned feed rollers IOI and |02, for transport across a second cutting roller |03 to veffect the longitudinal side cuts of the window cuts made in the blank by the curved blades on the roller 91.

The roller` |03 also cooperates with a hardened tension roller |06 to form the cuts in the blank. From the rollers |06 and |03 the blank is continued through the machine, aided by the rollers 26 and 21 and cooperating spring tensioned pressure rollers |01 and |08.

The rollers just described are driven from the longitudinal shaft 13 through a countershaft |09 extending parallel with the countershafts 59 and 12 previously described. The countershaft |09 has a bevel gear IIO meshing with a complementary bevel gear III on the longitudinal shaft. Also mounted on the shaft |09 is a gear II2 meshing with spaced idle gears I I3 and I I4 which in turn mesh with gears II5 and I I6 lfixed. to the shafts ofthe cutting rollers 91 and I 03.

The shaft for the vroller 23 is provided with a rthat both roller shafts are driven in the same direction. The segment roller 93 carries a gear |20 meshing with the gear ||8 on the shaft of the roller 22. The rollers 24 and 25 are driven from the -gears H5 and ||6 respectively through gears |2| and |22 mounted on theshafts of the rollers.

Attention is particularly directed to the angu lar arrangement of the knives relativelyto the axis of the cutting rollers, as well as the angular relation of the rollers 22, 23, 91, 24,45, |03, 26, 21, and the segment roller 93, which arrangement moves the blanks out of line with the normal line of travel through the machine. This is an important feature of the invention as the angular arrangement of the knives provides for a shearing cut through the blank in forming the window. Since the knives are located at right angles to the normal travel of the blanks, they will, therefore, begin their cut at one end; that is, the knife 98 begins to engage the blank before the knife 99 and the parallel knives begin their cutting action at the ends thereof, and the cutting continues along the knives as the knives are planetated. It is apparent that if theblanks continue in a straight path the window opening will be formed at an angle to its proper position, but by changing their direction of travel the blanks are shifted parallel to the cutting knives to compensate for the difference in the beginning of the cuts.

By thus mounting the feed rollers in angular relation to the normal path of travel of the blanks and by locating the knives in transverse relation or at a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of the cutting rollers, we are enabled to provide a more positive and a cleaner cut for the window opening, as well as providing a more easily operated machine with less strain on the cutters.

During the continued travel of the blank the cut-out portion thereof is removed due to planetation of the knives carried by the roller |03, and to clear the knives of the blank we provide a vacuum roller |23 mounted in contact with the revolving knives so that the nozzle |24 thereof will engage the cut-out section and remove it from between the knife blades.

Rotatably mounted in the side frames and in peripheral Contact with the vacuum roller is a second vacuum roller |25 having a nozzle |26 whichcomes into contact with the cut-out ysection and stacks it against a plate |21 that is carried by an arm t28 supported from the side frames on a horizontal shaft |29.

At the roller 21 the blank is again straightened to continue its travel through the machine parallel with the center line thereof by means of a segment roller |30 similar tothe segment roller 93 previously described and which cooperates with the forwarding roller 28.

In order t-o avoid tearing of .the lblanks as their direction of travel is changed, the rollers |01 and |08 are lifted to allow freedom of the blanks.

These rollers are pivotally supported on a cross shaft |32 pivotally mounted in the bed plate extensions supporting the rollers |00 and |06. 'Ihe shaft' |32 is rocked to lift the rollers by an arm |33 which isactuated from a cam |34 carried on the shaft of the vacuum roller' |23, as best illustrated in Fig. 1,- the arm |33 being operably connected with the cam through a fork-shaped arm |35. The timing of the cam is so arranged that when the point oft the blank is about to be engaged by the vacuum roller he rollers |0| and |02 are raised to relieve the pressure on the blank until it has passed entirely therefrom to permit its free change of travel under influence of the vacuum roller |30.

The shaft of the vacuum roller |23 is provided with a gear |36 meshing with the gear H6 on the cutting roller |03, and-the shaft for the lower vacuum roller is provided with a gear |31 meshing with a gear |36, as illustrated in Fig. l. The rollers 26 and 21 are provided with gears |38 and |39; the gear |38 meshing directly with the gear |36 while the gear |39 meshes with the gear |36 through idler gears |40 and |4|.

Cooperating with the rollers .29, 30, 3|, 32 and 33 are pressure rolls |42, |43, |44, |45 and |46, respectively, for guiding the blank through the closure flap-gluing mechanism now described.

Supported above the pressure rollers |43 and |44 by upward extensions of the bed plates is a glue pan |41 having rotatably mounted therein a glue pick-up roller |48 for depositing glue on a transfer roller |49 rotatably supported above the rear edge of the pan and in contact withl the roller |48. The glue is removed from the transfer roller and applied to the blank as it emerges from under the pan by an applicator |50 carried on the end of a rotating arm |5|.

The arm |5| is mounted on a shaft spaced above the pressure rolls |45 and is carried in the extensions of the bed plates supporting the glue pan.

The rollers 28 to 33, inclusive, and the vacuum r-oller |30, together with the glue applicator shaft |5|, are driven from a fourth countershaft |52 mounted directly below the rollers 29 and 30. The countershaft |52 projects entirely through `the side frame and carries on its end adjacent the longitudinal shaft 13 a bevel gear |53 meshing with a bevel gear |54 on the shaft 13. The opposite end of the countershaft |52 carries a gear wheel |55 that meshes with gears |56 and |51 on the Ishafts of the rollers 29 and 30, respectively, through an idle gear |58. The opposite ends "of the last named shafts are provided with gears |59 and |60, respectively, to drive the remaining rollers.

The roller 28 is driven fromthe gear |59 through an idle gear |6| meshing with a gear |62 on the shaft of the roller 28, and the segmental roller |30 is provided with a gear |63 which meshes with the gear |62. The shafts of the rollers3l, 32 and 33 are provided with gears |64, |65 and |66, and areinterconnected by idle gears |61, |68 and |60, the gear |61 meshing with the gear |59 on the shaft of the roller 30 to transmit motion to the other gears ofthe train.

The glue applicator shaft is provided with a gear |10 meshing with the gear |65, and the shaft ,for the transfer roller |49 is driven by a gear |1| meshing with the gear |10. 'I'he opposite end of the transfer roller shaft carries a, gearl |12 meshing with a gear |13 to drive the glue pick-up roller |48. The forwarding rollers, as well as the vacuum roller |30 and the glue applicator shaft, are thus operated in timed relation with the rollers previously described so that the blank continues its forward travel through the machine at the same rate it travels through vthe window-forming mechanism.

The rollers 33 and |46 continue the travel'of l the blank to a point where a transparent window strip is applied, as now to be described.

Rotatably supported on extensions |14 mounted on the left hand ends of the bed plates (Fig. 2) is a shaft |15 supporting a roll of transparent paper or the like |16 from which the windows are formed. The end of the paper strip is threaded between feed rollers |11 and |18 and across a downwardly inclined table |19 toward the path of theA blanks and between shear blades |80 and |0| respectively mounted above and below the table |19 and operating through a slot |82 therein. The feed roller |11 is intermittently operated and partially rotat/ed in timed relation with Fixed in driving relation with the gear |84 isv a smaller gear |85 meshing with a gear |81 rotatably supported on a stub shaft |88 mounted on the frame extension at a point below the shaft |65.

Fixed in driving relation with the gear |81 is a ratchet wheel |99 intermittently operated by a pawl |90 carried at the end of an arm |9| swingingly mounted on the shaft |88. The arm carrying the pawl is operated by a pitman |92 having a ring |93 operating over an eccentric |94 carried on the projecting end of a roller shaft |95. The roller shaft |95 is driven from the gear |69 previously describedby means of a gearv |96 meshing with an idle gear |91 so that the eccentric is rotated in timed relation with the forwarding rollers. Rotation of the eccentric -swingingly reciprocates the arm to intermittently actuate the ratchet wheel between each operation of the machine tol rotate the chain of gears driving the strip feeding roller |11 to feed the proper amount of strip through the shear blades to cover the window opening. The shear blades are then actuated from the shaft |95 by a cam 98 that actuates a crank lever |99 operably connected with the shear blades through a pitman 200 to sever the measured section of the strip.

Rotatably mounted under the lower edge of the shear table |19 and in position to engage the strip is a vacuum roller 20| having a series of openings 202 through which a vacuum is dra to engage the forward edge of the strip sect on directly after the cut is made. The roller 0| operates in timed relation with the knives and with the movement of the blank so that-the vacuum roller carries the window strip into contact with the blank at the time the windowopening is passing over a roller 203 which is carried on the shaft |95 previously described. In order to drive the Vacuum roller 29 it is provided with a gear 204 that meshes with the gear |96 on the shaft |95 previously described.

The blanks with the transparent panels applied to the Window openings are now brought to a station for gumming the closure flaps c of the envelopes in order that the gumming of the closre flaps and the transparent panels may be dried at the same time. To gum the closure flaps it is desirable to bunch the blanks in overlapped formation in such a mann-er that only the portions of the iiaps to receive the glue are exposed. To accomplish this we provide a rotary vacuum disk 205 having approximately three times the diameter of the vacuum rollers previously described. The vacuum disk 205 is equipped at equal distances about its circumference with sets of apertures 206 through which a vacuum is drawn to engage the blanks as they are delivered across the roller 34.

'Ihe disk 205 is mounted on a countershaft 201 rotatably carried in the side frames, and is driven by a gear wheel 208 that meshes with a gear 209 on the shaft of the roller 203 which in turn is driven from the gear |96 by a gear 2|0 meshing therewith at the opposite side of the machine. The gears are so timed that the vacuum Wheel makes one revolution during one revolution of the forwarding rollers. Therefore, three successive blanks are engaged upc-n each revolution of the vacuum disk in order that the envelopes may be delivered,I thereby to the gumming belts in over- The disk 205 rotates in contact with a fixed disk 2| having a connection 2 2 with the vacuum pump (not shown) and overwhich the channels 206 connecting the ports 206 rotate to make them effective for gripping the blanks to carry them through feed rollers 2 I3 and 2 4 which are driven at substantially the speed of the forward rollers as later described. The rollers 2|3 and 2|4 deliver the blanks in overlapped formation between spaced sets of upper and lower endless belts 2|5-2I5 and 2|9-2|6, respectively. The sets of belts are spaced apart to engage the side flaps of the blanks and operate over a downwardly inclined table 2|1 carried between the side frames and 2 at a point below the vacuum disk 205.

The belts 2|6-2|6 operate over a roller 2| 8 working through a slot 2|9 in the table, over the table 2|1, over a roller 220 carried by the side frames, and over a driving roller 22| operable in timed relation with the rollers for the belts 2 5- 2| 5. The belts 2| 5 -25 operate over a drive roller 222, over a roller 223 supported above the table in parallel relation with the roller 2 8, over a roller 224, and over an idling roller 225, as best illustrated in Fig. 2. Y

The driving pulley for. the belts 2|6-2I6 is provided with a sprocket 226 that is driven by a chain 221 -operating over a sprocket 228 carried on a stub shaft 229 projecting from the side frame Supported on the stub shaft in driving relation with the sprocket is a gear 230 meshing with a gear 23| drivenby a gear 232 carried on a pulley shaft 233 extending horizontally between the side frames. 'I'heshaft 233 is driven from the shaft 201 by a chain 235 running over sprockets 236 and 231 on the respective shafts.

The drive roller 222 for the belts 2 |5-2I5 carries a vgear 238 which meshes with a gear train 239 driven by a gear 240 meshing with the gear 24| 'on the shaft of the drive roller for the belts 2|6-2I6", as best illustrated in Fig. 1. The feed roller 2 I3 previously mentioned is driven from the gear. 239 by a gear 242 on the roller shaft.

The lower run of the belts 2|5-2I5' carried by the roller 224 is preferably yieldingly tensioned against the 1 1111 of the belts 2 |6-2 6 operating over the table 2 1, and'we have, therefore, mounted the roller 224 at the ends of arms 243 that l the blanks are delivered from the lends'of the belts they are discharged between a second pair of spaced belts 246 and 241 and an intermediate belt 248. These belts operate at slightly greater speed than the speed of the belts previously described in order to effect slight separation of the blanks to prevent the gum on one blank sticking to the gum of an adjacent blank.

The belts 246 and 241 operate over a pulley 249 loosely mounted on the shaft 233 previously mentioned in such a manner that the peripheries of the belts operate in line with the blanks discharged between the belts 2|5-2I6. The belts 246 and 241 extend to the opposite end of the machine (Fig. 2A) and operate over a somewhat larger pulley 258 and over a table 25| and guide rollers 252, 253, 254 and 255, the," belt being tensioned by a tightening device indicated at ,256 (Fig. 2A). The lower run of the belts 246,and 241 cooperates with the upper run of the belt 248 to retain the blanks therebetween. The lowerA belt 246 is, therefore, retained in operative position by guide rollers 251, 258, ca ried by-,the side frames adjacent the pulley '24 over a guide roller 259 positioned below the rollers 255, over a roller 260 carried by the side frames ofthe folding section of the machine, over a roller 26| carried by the side frames abovev they pulley 250, over a tensioning roller 262 carried above the table 25|, and back over the larger drive ulley 250.

- The roller 251 and the pulley glare arranged relatively tc each other toiforrn `a y radually closing throat between the runs of thelbelts to receive the blanks as they aredischarged from the belts als anezls. f

The belts thus described are vdriven by the pulley 258 which is actuated by a worm gear 263 that meshes .with a worm 264 on'an extension 265 'I' of the shaft 64 previously described. The extension 265 and the shaft 63 are coupled through intermeshing bevel gears 266,261 and 268, as best illustrated in Figs. 1A and 3A. The intermediate bevel gear 261 is driven by a power shaft 269 extending between th'e side frames I and 2' of the folding section of the machine.

The lower runs of the belts 246 and 241 and upper run of the belt 248 carrying the blanks therebetween travel through a drying tunnel 210 into which warm air is' discharged against the glue portions of the blanks to aid in their drying.

After the blanksyhave been delivered from between the belts at the right hand end of the machine (Fig. 2A), they pass between'guide rollers 21| onto a belt 212 that is intermittently actuated in the same manner as the belt 45 previously described to reassemble the blanks in overlapped formation in case some of them have lost their position and spacing in the drying belts. i The belt 212 operates over spaced rollers 213 and 214 and over a table 215 on which operate pressure rollers 216, 211 and 218. The vbelt is driven from the roller 213 which is provided with a. sprocket 219 actuated by a chain 288 from a Geneva gearing 28| that is operated from the countershaft 269 through a chain 282.

From the belt 212 the blanks are delivered through continuously moving rollers 283 and 284 operating at the same peripheralA speed as the following rollers to allow spacing thereof for readjustment by stop fingers 285 and 286 similar to the stop fingers previously.4 described. These stop fingers are operated by a cam shaft 281 in such ,a manner that the finger 286 moves into the travel until they are in timed relation with the .flap-gluing and folding mechanism later described, whereupon the stop fingers 286 are retracted and the fingers 285 are moved into position to push the blank between creasing rolls 288 and 289 where the side flaps a and b and the closure and bottom flaps c and d are scored prepara- ,tory to folding.

The cam shaft operating the stop fingers is actuated from a gear 298 fixed in driving relation with the continuously rotating member of the Geneval gear which meshes with a driving gear 29| on the cam shaft. The feed rollers 283 and 284 are driven byintermeshing gears 292 and 293 that are rotated by an intermediate gear 294 meshing with the gear 29|. The' scoring rollers 288 and 289 are provided with gears 295 and 296 that are driven from the gear 29| through an best illustrated in Fig. 3A. The blank then passes between pressure rolls 38| and. 302 operating over the folded edges of the side flaps to press them flat against the body portion of the blank. The blank then continues between pairs of rollers 383 and 304.

Supported above the rollers 383-384 is a.` glue pan 305 having a glue pick-up roller 306 and a glue transfer roller 381 for applying glue to an arcuate segment 388. The arcuate segment conforms to the shapefof the lower edges of the side flaps and applies adhesive thereto as the blank passes from between the rollers 383 and 384. The applicator segment is carried on a shaft 309 supported by the side frames `in position to receive glue from the transfer roller. The blank then passesy between pressing rollers 3| 0--3|| which later described.

The shafts of the rollers 38| and 382 are provided with intermeshing gears `3|2 and 3|3 which are ldriven from the gear 3|4 on the shaft of the roller 299 through a gear 3|5 meshing with the gear 3|3. The applicator shaft is driven by a gear 3| 6 driven from the gear 3 |3 through a train of gears`3|1, and the transfer roller is driven from the gear 3|6 by means of a gear 3|8.

, ,After the passage of the bottom flap from between the rollers 3|8 and 3|| a swinging linger 3|9 moves upwardly to raise the flap so that it is in position to be engaged by a finger 328 operable above the path of travel of the blank to fold lthe bottom flap over the side flaps.

When the sealing flap of the envelope emerges yfrom beneath the next pair of rollers 32| and 322 it is directed by a guide plate 323 upwardly, but at this time a tucking finger 324 swings into position to bend the closure flap on its Vcrease line tok tuck it under the roller 325 which engages against the roller 322.

The completed envelope is then dropped from the rollers 325 and 322 onto an inclined plate 326 to a stacking mechanism indicated at 321. This .mechanism includes a'wheel 328 having peripheral lugs 329 for engaging the rear edge of the folded blank and for carrying it into a substantially vertical position in the rear of oscillating ngers338 which advance the blank in vertical position for engagement between the flights of a. pair of gathering disks 33| that move the oompleted envelopes into stacked relation against an abutment plate (not shown), after which the stacks of completed envelopes may be removed and boxed for shipment.

The fingers 320 and 32| are operated by pitmen 332 and 333 actuated by cams 334 and 335 on the shafts ofthe rollers 3I| and 322, respectively. The rollers are rotated by gears 336 and 331 intermeshed with a gear 338 and actuated by an idle gear 339 meshing with the gear 3|1.

In operating a machine constructed and assembled as described, the blanks are placed in a stack on the plate B and adjusted. in position by the posts 8. The'various operating parts of the machine are then adjusted to perform the various operations on the blanks. machine the sucker arm will engage the top ilap of the undermost blank in the stack and draw it downwardly Within reach of the rollers 40 and l1. The roller 40 will then engage the diverging side edges of the flap to feed the blank onto the straightening and aligning belt 45 in such a manner that the blanks are in overlapped formation, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4.

` The blanks are then intermittently advanced by the'belt to the faster, continuously revolving rollers 68 and 2|, which increases the speed of the successive blanks and forwards them intb engage- 'ment with the stop ngers 83 which are timed to swing into position t'o momentarily stop eacli blank yuntil it is in timed relation with the cutters.

The blank will then be forwarded -by the segment roller 93 through the rollers 96 and 23 to the first set of cutting rollers, where the end cuts: e and j are formed in the blank, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The blank is then forwarded ontothe .next set of cutting rollers, where the longitudinal cuts g and h are made in the blank aligning with the terminals of the cuts e and Prior to the operation of the cutting rollers, the lblanks are shifted at an angle to the normal path of travel in order that the windows are formed in the proper place as previously described. Upon operation of the last cutter the vacuum nozzles, carried by the rollers |23 and |25, move into'position to remove the cut section i from the blank and stack it on the support 21.

After passing the last cutting roller, the blank is again straightened relatively to the center line of the machine and is passed by the segment roller |30 into and through the gumming mechanism for applying gum about the window opening", as indicated at y', Fig.- 4.

The rollers |46 and 33 then forward the blank between the vacuum roller 20| and the roller 203, where the transparent strip k is applied over the window opening and is pressed into sealingengagement with the adhesive 1'. The vacuum disk 205 then moves into positionto assemble the blanks in overlapped formation between the belts 2| 5 and 2|6, where adhesive is Aapplied to the closure flap indicated at l, Fig. 4.

The blanks are then delivered to the drying -belts 246, 241 and 248 tolv be carried back underneath the window-forming mechanism` to the folding section of the machine. y carriage by the belts they 4pass through the drying tunnel 210, where the adhesive ori-the elosure nap and the window opening is dried.

After the blanks are delivered from the drying belts they are discharged onto the belt 215, where they are reassembled in overlapped formation, as shown in Fig. 4, for individual delivery into and through the flap-folding mechanism. e

The blanks, on being discharged from the belt 215, are aligned and properly spaced by the iin- Upon starting thel During their cator 308 to the side flaps indicated at m, Fig. 4.A

The blank is-then advanced to the flap-folding station where the arms 324 and 320 fold the bottom and closure liaps, respectively.

The folded blanks are then dropped down the inclined plate 326 to the stacking mechanism where they are stacked preparatory to boxing.

What weI claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting a stack of blanks, means associated with the supporting means for successively withdrawing blanks from the stack, forwarding means for moving the withdrawn blanks through a xed path, rotary cutters cooperating with the forwarding means for forming a window opening in the blanks, means cooperating with the forwarding means for angularly shifting said withdrawn blanks relatively to their normal path of travel prior to formation of said window opening whereby the rotary cutters eifect a shearing cut through the blanks, and means acting in synchronism with-the forwarding means for applying a transparent strip to the blank over said window opening.

2. In a machine of the character described, means for successively forwarding blanks through a fixed path, rotary cutters cooperating with the forwarding means for forming a window opening in the blanks at the time they are being moved `by said forwarding means, and means acting in cooperation with the forwarding means for\ angularly shifting theblanks through the cutters whereby the cutters produce a progressive shearing cut through the blanks.

3. In a machine of the character described, a train of forwarding rollers, means for supporting a stack of blanks at one end ,of said train, means for successively withdrawing blanks from the 'stack for deposit on said train, a rotary 'cutter cooperating with a selected forwarding roller for forming spaced arcuate cuts in the blanks, a second rotary cutter; cooperating with another of s'aid forwarding rollers for forming cuts in the blanks connecting the rst named cuts to complete a window opening in the blanks at the time they are being forwarded by said train of rollers, and means cooperating with the forwarding inc ans to time the blanksfor delivery to said cutters. l

4. In a'machine of. the character described, a train of forwarding rollers, means for supporting a stack of blanks at one endof said train, means Window opening in the blanks at the time they are,

being forwarded by said train of rollers, and means for diverting the blanks to effect shearing "puts by "said'cutters 5. In a machine of the character described, a train of forwarding rollers, means for supporting a stack of blanks at one end of said train, means for successively withdrawing blanks from the stack for deposit on said train, a pair of knives cooperating with a selected roller for forming cuts in the blanks, a second pair of knives cooperating with the first pair of knives to complete awindow opening in the blanks at the time they are being forwarded by said train of rollers, and means acting in cooperation with said cutters for removing the sections cut from the blanks.

6. In a machine of the character described, a train of forwarding rollers, means for supporting a stack of blanks at one end of said train, means for successively withdrawing the blanks from the stack to be forwarded by said train of rollers, a roller cooperating with o ne of .said rollers and having spaced cutters for forming spaced cuts in said blanks, a second roller having longitudinally spaced cutters cooperating with another of said rollers for forming longitudinal cuts in the blanks extending between said first named cuts, means for removing the portion of the blank within said` cuts, and means acting in synchronism with the train of rollers forv applying a transparent strip over said opening.

7. In a machine of the character described, a train of forwarding rollers, means for supporting a stack of blanks at one end of said train, means for successively withdrawing the blanks from the stack to be forwarded by said train of rollers, a

roller cooperating with one of said rollers and having spaced cutters for forming arcuate cuts in said blanks, a second roller having longitudinally spaced cutters cooperating with another of said rollers for forming longitudinal cuts in the blanks extending between said arcuate cuts, means for removing the portion of the blank within said cuts, means for applying an adhesive to the blanks for attaching a transparent strip, and means acting` in synchronism with the train of rollers for applying said strip over said a'd-4 hesive. i

8. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting a stack of blanks, having sealing flaps, means associated with the supporting means for successively withdrawing blanks from the stack, forwarding means for moving the withdrawn blanks through a fixed path, means cooperating with the forwarding means for forming, a window opening in the blanks at the time they are being moved by said forwarding means, means for gluing a strip over said opening, means for applying adhesive to said flaps, means for simultaneously drying said strips and flaps, .and means for folding the aps.

9. In a machine of the character described,

`means for supporting a stack of envelope blanks,

means associated with said supporting means for successively withdrawing blanks from the stack, forwarding means for moving the withdrawn blanks through a fixed path, rotary means cooperating with the forwarding means for forming a window opening in the blanks at the time they are being moved by said forwarding means, means acting in synchronism with the forwarding means for applying a transparent strip to the blank over said window opening, means for drying vthe blanks,- and means for folding the blanks to form envelopes. l

1 0. In a machine of thecharacter described,

means for supporting a stack of blanks, means associated with the support for successively withdrawing blanks from the stack, forwarding means for moving the withdrawn blanks through a fixed path, means for aligningand straightening said blanks on the forwarding means, rotary cutter means cooperating with the forwarding means for forming a window opening in the blanksv at the time they vare being moved by said forwarding' means, means acting in synchronism with the forwarding means for applying adhesive to the blank about said opening, rotary means cooperating with the forwarding means for applying a transparent strip over said window opening, means for gumming closure flaps of the blanks, and means for simultaneously drying the closure flaps and the adhesive applied tothe window opening.

11. In a ,machine of the character described,

forwarding means for moving blanks through a fixed path, rotary cutter means cooperating with the forwarding means for forming a window opening in the blanks at the time they are being moved by said forwarding means, means acting in synchronism with the forwarding means for applying adhesive to the blank about said opening, rotary means cooperating with the forwarding means for applying a transparent strip over said window opening, means for gumming closure flaps of the blanks, and means for simultaneously drying the closure flaps and the adhesive applied to the window opening.

12. In a machine of the character described, a train of forwarding rollers, means for successively delivering blanks to be forwarded by said train of rollers, a window-forming roller cooperating with one of said rollers and having spaced cutters arranged at offset points on the lperiphery of said window-forming roller for forming arcuate cuts in said blanks, a second roller .having longitudinally spaced cutters arranged at an angle to the axis of said ,second roller and cooperating with another of said rollers for forming longitudinal cuts in the blanks extending between said arcuate cuts, and means for 'diverting the blanks to position them relatively to said cutters to form said cuts in selected location on the blanks.

13. In a machine of the character described, forwarding means for moving blanks in successive order through a fixed path,v cutters cooperating withthe forwarding means for forming a window opening in theblanks at the time they are being moved by said forwarding means, and means acting in cooperation with the forwarding means for shifting the blanks for angular travel through the cutter whereby the cutters produce a progressive shearing cut through the blanks.

14. In a machine of the character described, a train of forwarding rollers for moving blanks through a fixed path, a rotary cutter member cooperating with a selected forwarding roller for forming spacedcuts in the blanks, a second rotary cutter member cooperating with another of said forwarding rollers for forming cuts in the blanks connecting the first named cuts to complete a window opening in the blanks at the time they are being moved by said forwarding rollers,

members. y

15. In a machine of the character described, a i

train of forwarding rollers for moving blanksv through a fixed path, means cooperating with a selected roller for forming cuts in the blanks, a second means cooperating with another of said roller'svto connect said cuts to form a definitely shaped opening in the blanks at the time they are' being moved by said forwarding rollers, and means cooperating with said forwarding rollers to time the lblanks, for delivery to said cutting means.

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination'offorwarding means for moving blanks through a fixed path, means cooperating with the forwarding means for forming a window opening in the blanks at the time the blanks are being moved thereby, means subsequent to the window forming means andA acting in synchronism with the forwarding means for applying adA hesive to edges of the window opening, means for` chronism with the forwarding means for folding the aps after the adhesive is dried. V

17. In a machine of the character described, forwarding means for moving blanks successively through a xed path,'a pair of window forming rollers, means for supporting said rollers in the path of the blanks, spaced knives arranged on one of said rollers at offset points on the periphery thereof for forming cuts in the blanks, spaced parallel knives .on the other roller, arranged at an angle to the axis of the' roller for forming parallel cuts in the blanks, and means f 'or diverting the blanks t-o position them relatively; to said knives to ,form said cuts in selected location on the blanks.

18. In a machine of the cha acter described, forwarding means for moving Alanks through a 'xed path, knives supported in the path of the blanks at an angle to the nor l travel of the blanks, and means cooperating lth the forwarding means to shift said blanks whereby the cut made by said knives isat right angles' to the normal direction of travel of the blanks. Y

19.A machine of the .character described, a train of forwarding rollers for voving blanks .through a fixed path, a pair of 1 terally spaced rotating knives supported above fue path of the blanks for forming cuts in the b anks extending in the direction of travel'of the blanks, a second.

pair of rotating knives, and means for supporting the second pair of rotating knives 'in advance of and intermediate planes extending through said r'st knives for forming cuts in the blanks extending at right angles to the travel of the blanks and interconnecting the first named cuts to produce window openings in the blanks.

y20. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for moving blanks in successive order through a fixed pat-h, means co-V operating with the forwarding means for forming a window opening in the blanks at the time they are being moved by said forwarding means, means subsequent to said window opening forming means for forwarding a transparent strip in timed relation with the forwarding means, means for cutting a section from said strip, means for applying adhesive to the blank about said window ,opening," rotary means cooperating with the forwarding lmeans for applying said section to the blank over said window opening for attachment by the adhesive; means for drying the adhesive, and means acting in synchronism with the forwarding means for folding the Yblanks after the adhesive has been acted upon by the drying means. v

21. In an envelope forming machine, means for moving envelope blanks through a fixed path, a cutter cooperating'with said forwarding means l for forming spaced cuts in the blanks, a. subsequent cutter member cooperating with the forwarding means for forming cuts in the blanks interconnecting the iirst named cuts to complete a window in the blanks at the time they are being moved by said forwarding-means, and means cooperating wth said blank moving means to time the blanks for delivery to said cutters.

ALFRED WiNKLER.

MAX DNNEBIER. 

